Torch-lamp



H. BREWER.

Lantern.

I Patented Jan. 10, 1854.

-HARVEY BREWER, OF EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. I

TORCH-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,419, dated January 10, 1854.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY BRE ER, of East Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Lighting Street-Lamps, which I call a Torch-Lamp; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which v Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lantern to which my invention is applied; Fig. 2 a side view of the same with the torch D withdrawn; Fig. 8 an elevation of the opposite side showing the door through whichthe torch is introduced to be lighted- Fig. 4 is a top view of the lantern, and Fig. 5 is a View of the lantern the doorbeing open to show the interior parts. 7

My invention is designed to enable me to employ camphene or other highly inflammable fluid; for the purpose of lighting street lamps in lieu of the expensive oil torch or lamp lighter heretofore in use,

whereby reat economyv in the consumption of oil is e ected and increased certainty and operator, should he at any time fall or stoop, while the reservoir at the same time is constantly open for the reception of the torch.

To enable others skilled in the art to which this most nearly pertains to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe the construction and operation of my lantern and also of the reservoir which I have applied thereto for the purpose of holding the camphene.

A is'the body of the lantern B the lamp within. A the back of the lantern which is attached to the guard C, by the stretchers 0 the two being separated a short distance from each other as seen in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. By means of this construction, the lantern which is worn attached to the person of the lamp lighter is supported at such a distance from his body that he is not inconvenienced by the heat of the burning lamp.

The back A or door of the lantern with the guard C, opens upon the hinge a to give fastened, when closed by the clasp a.

access to the lamp as seen in Fig. 5. They are i i c 0 are rings through which pass the straps which bind the lantern to the breast of the lamp lighter, his hands being left entirely free. V v

The reservoir for containing the burning fluid is of peculiar construction and maybe described as followsz E is the exterior tube, (Z an interior tube which is adapted thereto and which extends about half way to the bottom of the reservoir all entrance to g which is closed except that through the small. tube (Z, it is'therefo re evident that if .the reservoir be partially filled with liquid that the lantern may be turnedin any direc t-ion upon either side or even be inverted fall he is in no danger of throwing the hop uid upon his clothes, while at the same time without the possibility of spilling theliq uid; and that should the operator stoop or' the reservoir is constantly open for the re- 7 'ception of the torch, the interior tube being ofa size just sufii cient to admit it.

torch D is constructed of a tin tube with a handle, the tubeserving to hold the wicking or other. fibrous material which composes the swab. I I

F is a guard upon the inside of the lantern which'prevents the lamp from being The extinguished by the air which enters the ventilating holes I). I is another guard upon the outside of the lantern for a similar purpose.

G is the'post for the insertion of the torch when it is required to be lighted and which is closed by the coverg.

H is a window of mica to give light in front of the operator.

Operation: The lamp B being lighted and the latern strapped tothe breast of the operator, the reservoir E is filled to about one fourth of its capacity with burning fluid and the torch is placed in the reservoir as seen in Fig. 5. The lamplighter it will be seen has both his hands at liberty to manage his ladder, and open the street lamps. The torch which is held in the right hand, isthrust in at theport G the cover g, being removed at the same instant with the left,

and when lighted'it is applied to the wicks l burning state. This continues to burn a sufiicient length of time to ignite the Wick, without obliging the operator to wait until this is effected, in severely cold weather when the oil is chilled the heat thus produced is found to be sufficient to melt the oil in the immediate vicinity of the wick, and thus the ignition of the latter is insured. The torch is then blown out and returned to the reservoir.

There are many advantages attending the use of camphene in the manner described; Among them may be enumerated: 1st. Great economy,-the expense of feeding the old torch being considerable while a spoonful of camphene per day is more than is required for 'my torch. 2d. The rapidity with which the lamplighter is enabled to. perform his work, is a further source of economy, as he can take care of a much larger number of lamps, it only being necessary to touch the lamp wicks with theswab which leavesa suflicient quantity of the burning camphene upon each one of them'to insure its ignition. 3d. The smoke which the'old torch throws ofl is a serious objection to its use in crowded cities, and this inconvenience does not at tach itself to the use of my torch. These advantagesresult as above stated from the use of camphene or some similar highly in flammable liquid; but the danger attendant upon its usehas prevented it from being introduced for this purpose, for should the lamp lighter stoop or fall the fluid would be spilled upon his clothes and perhaps ignited at the same instant and serious consequences might result. By'the use of my invention all danger of this kind is avoided,

and the use of the liquid in question is rendered perfectly practicable, for, should the lamp lighter fall or stoop or should the lantern at any time be overturned the liquid will pass up between the interior and exterior tubes of the reservoir, from which it can in no wise escape.

I am aware that torches hay e been adapted to cylindrical reservoirs containing burning fluid the handle of the torch or swab closing the mouth of the reservoir and eX- tinguishing the fluid, should it chance to be'ignited by. returning the torch while burning. I do not therefore claim such a device, neither wouldit answer the purpose, where the reservoir is not stationary or where it is to be attached to the person. Neitherdo I claim any of the details of the construction of -my"lantern, except such as I shall hereafterspecify, nor do I claim the lantern itself as new, nor the making use of camphene or any similar fluid for the purpose of lighting street or otherlamps, but

What I do claim as my invention and ,de-

siretosecure by Letters Patentis r The peculiar constructlon of thereservolr for: containing the camphene; that is to say, the combination of the exterior tube '13 with the interior tube (Z for thepurposeof pre venting the liquid from being spilled should the lamp be overturned; while the reservoir is at all times open for the reception of the torch. c

HARVEY BREWER. WVitnesses i i A. REED,

LUTHER F LLER. 

